Post by Shuftin on Oct 2, 2006 5:01:30 GMT -5

Sep 30, 2006

By RICHARD BURGESSAcadiana bureau

LAFAYETTE — City-Parish Government has paid $82,500 to settle an excessive force lawsuit filed by a man who said police shocked him at least 17 times with a Taser stun gun, according to court documents.

Kevin Alexander, 29, of Houston, claimed in the federal lawsuit that he was severely injured and scarred after police repeatedly shocked him in 2004 in an attempt to make him cough up drugs he allegedly swallowed.

It was one of two lawsuits filed against Lafayette police, and among dozens filed across the country in connection with the use of Taser stun guns, which immobilize a person with a high-voltage electrical shock.

“We thought it was in the best interest to put this matter behind us,” said City-Parish Attorney Pat Ottinger.

City-parish officials declined to comment on why they agreed to the settlement, which was formalized this week, or on the specifics of an internal affairs investigation of the incident.

Lafayette Police spokesman Cpl. Mark Francis said only that the incident resulted in a change in the policy that governs the use of Taser stun guns.

“Basically, an officer cannot use a Taser to preserve evidence,” Francis said.

Alexander has said he was in a hotel room waiting to meet a friend when police officers burst through the door and began shocking him with a stun gun.

According to police records, Alexander was arrested after an undercover officer allegedly bought crack cocaine from him during a sting.

Alexander has maintained he had no drugs.

Alexander could not be reached for comment on the settlement. His attorney did not return two calls to his office for comment.

The lawsuit named as defendants city-parish government, police administrators, officer Trampus Gaspard and other officers identified only as “John Does.”